Dog tied to fence during hurricane inspires law banning pet abandonment
The dog who was left to drown during a hurricane is now the face of a new Florida law.
On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed "Trooper's Law," making it a felony to restrain and abandon a dog during a declared natural disaster or when an evacuation order is in effect. The law was named after a bull terrier found tied to a fence as Hurricane Milton approached Florida last fall.
The dog was discovered on Oct. 9 along Interstate 75 near Tampa, as evacuees fled the path of the Category 4 storm. Body camera footage shows Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales crossing a flooded field in the pouring rain to reach the frightened dog, who stood chest-deep in water and barked in fear.
"I don't blame you," Morales said gently, trying to calm the animal. "It's OK."
The dog's owner, 23-year-old Giovanny Aldama Garcia, told investigators he had been heading to Georgia to escape the storm but left the dog, originally named Jumbo, behind "because he couldn't find anyone" to care for him. He was later charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony. In a statement, Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez said, "Quite frankly, I don't think [five years] is enough," and urged lawmakers to consider tougher penalties for abandoning pets during emergencies.
The dog was renamed Trooper in honor of Trooper Morales and was adopted by a couple in Parkland, Florida. Trooper recently survived cancer and stomach surgery after ingesting more than 100 pieces of garbage while in his former owner's care.
Signed this week, Senate Bill 150 makes it a third-degree felony to leave a dog restrained and unattended during a declared disaster, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. It also codifies existing misdemeanor penalties for failing to provide confined animals with adequate food, water, shelter and exercise.
DeSantis also signed Dexter's Law on Tuesday, a second bill that strengthens penalties for aggravated animal cruelty. Named after a shelter dog who was killed just days after being adopted, the legislation ensures that those convicted of extreme abuse face criminal consequences that reflect the seriousness of the crime.
"Florida stands by man's best friend," DeSantis said in a statement.
Safe, healthy and loved, Trooper was recently honored as Parkland's "Favorite Dog" and now his name is part of Florida law.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Man Married to US Citizen Held in Alligator Alcatraz After Traffic Stop
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Oscar Alejandro, a Mexican national married to a U.S. citizen, and his brother, Carlos Martin Gonzalez, who was traveling on a tourist visa, were arrested during a traffic stop in Orlando, Florida, and taken into custody at the "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center, according to multiple local media reports. Newsweek has reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Consulate of Mexico in both Orlando and Miami for comment via email on Friday. Newsweek has filled out a contact form for comment with Reyes Legal, who are representing the brothers. Why It Matters In recent weeks, human rights advocates have raised concerns about a new Florida detention center, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," which was quickly created on Everglades land and holds an estimated 1,000 beds currently. The center is part of the Trump administration's effort to crackdown on illegal immigration. President Donald Trump has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history, an initiative that has seen an intensification of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and arrests across the country, including people with valid visas and documentation. The administration has deported thousands of people to their countries of origin, as well as a smaller percentage to third countries with U.S. agreements. It has also encouraged individuals without proper documentation to self-deport. What To Know On July 7, Carlos, 26, was stopped by Florida Highway Patrol in Orlando over tinted windows and a Mexican license plate, the local news outlet WSVN reported. The trooper found no proper registration for the vehicle. Carlos said his brother had the registration materials, which Oscar, 30, reportedly brought. However, the registration was not in the brothers' names, and Carlos was arrested for operating an unregistered vehicle. The brothers were first held in Orange County Jail before being transferred to the detention facility known as Alligator Alcatraz. Newsweek could not confirm either brother's location in the ICE detainee database. Their father, Don Martin Gonzalez, told local news outlet WSVN his sons are "both in Alligator Alcatraz, but they are not together." He said his sons were on vacation in the Florida city following the death of their mother. Carlos was originally in the states on a tourist visa and Oscar is married to a U.S. citizen and has an expired residency permit, according to El Pais. Oscar has been living in the U.S. for eight months. President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and others, tour "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Ochopee,... President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and others, tour "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla. More AP Photo/Evan Vucci What People Are Saying Juan Sabines Guerrero, Consul of Mexico in Orlando, Florida, said in Spanish in an X post on July 21: "Today I received Mr. Martín González, father of two young Mexicans detained in Orlando and transferred to the prison known as #AlligatorAlcatraz. His son Carlos was on vacation with a valid tourist visa following the passing of his mother; Alejandro is married to a U.S. a call, the attorney warned us about possible violations of the civil rights of both nationals, as the prison where they are held is not under federal government (ICE) jurisdiction but rather under the state of Florida, so they still lack an 'alien' number or case number, preventing them from accessing adequate defense and a fair trial." Don Martin Gonzalez, the brother's father, told WSVN: "They are in something like cages. They're like chicken coops. That's what they're telling me, so one is in one, and the other is in another. With, I think, like 36 people, or something like that, or more, per cage. This is a very harsh prison. Very harsh It's not a prison; it's a detention center. It's very difficult to be there. You're not allowed to bathe, only every four days. The water given to drink is dirty. You drink as little as possible so they don't get sick, while there are a lot of mosquitoes. They have them chained to the floor, hands and feet." Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Garrett J. Ripa said Friday about Alligator Alcatraz: "We've had two or three removal flights, and we'll continue to have those removal flights. Up to 100 individuals who were illegally present in the state of Florida have already been removed from the United States." What Happens Next Deportation flights from Alligator Alcatraz have commenced. Sabines Guerrero said that "following instructions from President @Claudiashein," the consul has assigned the brothers legal representation in an effort to release them from the facility. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday confirmed 14 Mexican nationals are being held at the facility and said "all arrangements are being made to ensure they are repatriated immediately."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
FHP: High Springs man on foot stops traffic on US 27, hit and killed while exiting roadway
A 66-year-old High Springs man was hit and killed by a pickup truck on July 23 while walking on U.S. Highway 27, according to a news release from the Florida Highway Patrol. Here's what we know: When did the incident happen? July 23 at about 11:13 a.m. Local news: FHP: Gainesville man on motorcycle killed in crash on Archer Road in Gainesville Where did it happen? South of High Springs on U.S. 27 (State Road 45), near its intersection with Northwest 172nd Street. The FHP news release According to the FHP, a 66-year-old Newberry man was driving a pickup truck north on U.S. 27 at the same time the High Springs man was walking in the roadway, causing traffic to backup in both directions. The pickup truck "swerved" to the right to avoid the stopped traffic and subsequently hit the High Springs man, who was exiting the roadway. The High Springs man was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the truck and his 32-year-old passenger were not injured. The crash remains under investigation. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Man walking on US 27 hit and killed while exiting road in Alachua County Solve the daily Crossword
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
Black student dragged from his car and punched by Florida officers says he was scared and confused
McNeil is a biology major who played in the marching band at Livingstone College, a historically Black Christian college in Salisbury, North Carolina, Livingstone President Anthony Davis said. Advertisement The encounter with law enforcement happened in February, but the arrest didn't capture much attention until the video from McNeil's car-mounted camera went viral over the weekend. That's when the sheriff said he became aware of it and opened an internal investigation, which is ongoing. The sheriff said a separate probe by the State Attorney's Office cleared the officers of any criminal wrongdoing — a finding fiercely criticized by McNeil's lawyers. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Video from inside the car captures him being punched Footage of the violent arrest has sparked nationwide outrage, with civil rights lawyers accusing authorities of fabricating their arrest report. The video filmed by McNeil's camera shows him sitting in the driver's seat, asking to speak to the Jacksonville officers' supervisor, when they broke his window, punched him in the face, pulled him from the vehicle, and then punched him again. He was then knocked to the ground by an officer who delivered six closed-fist punches to the hamstring of his right thigh, police reports show. Advertisement Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday defended law enforcement officers and implied the video was posted to advance a 'narrative' and generate attention on social media. 'That's what happens in so many of these things,' DeSantis said. 'There's a rush to judgment. There's a, there's a desire to try to get views and clicks by creating division.' DeSantis says he hasn't seen the video, but backs law enforcement DeSantis said he hasn't reviewed the viral video but has 'every confidence' in Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, who has urged the public not to cast judgement based on the footage alone. 'If people get out of line, he's going to hold them accountable,' DeSantis said. Body camera footage of the encounter shows McNeil had been repeatedly told to exit the vehicle. And, though he earlier had his car door open while talking with an officer, he later closed it and appeared to keep it locked for about three minutes before the officers forcibly removed him, the video shows. The vantage point of the body camera footage that was released makes it difficult to see the punches that were thrown. The cellphone footage from the Feb. 19 arrest shows that seconds before being dragged outside, McNeil had his hands up and did not appear to be resisting as he asked, 'What is your reason?' He had pulled over and had been accused of not having his headlights on, even though it was daytime, his lawyers said. On Wednesday, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump said his client had every right to ask why he was being pulled over and to ask for a supervisor. Advertisement Sheriff: Officers have been cleared of committing any crimes The State Attorney's Office determined that the officers did not violate any criminal laws, the sheriff said. No one from the State Attorney's Office ever interviewed McNeil, said Crump. Daniels called their investigation 'a whitewashing.' 'But for that video, we would not be here,' Daniels said. 'And we thank God Mr. McNeil had the courage to record.' Asked about the criticism of the State Attorney's review, a spokesman for the office said Wednesday that 'a memo to McNeil's file will be finalized in the coming days that will serve as our comment.' Shortly after his arrest, McNeil pleaded guilty to charges of resisting an officer without violence and driving with a suspended license, Waters said. Civil rights attorneys call for accountability 'America, we're better than this, we're at a crossroads,' Crump said. 'We are a Democracy, we believe in the Constitution. We are not a police state where the police can do anything they want to citizens without any accountability.' Crump said his client remained calm while the officers who are trained to deescalate tense situations were the ones escalating violence. He said the case harkened back to the Civil Rights movement, when Black people were often attacked when they tried to assert their rights. 'What he exhibited was a 21st century Rosa Parks moment where an African American had the audacity to say 'I deserve equal justice under the law. I deserve to be treated like a human being with all the respect that a human being is entitled to.'' The sheriff has pushed back on some of the claims by Crump and lawyer Harry Daniels, saying the cellphone camera footage from inside the car 'does not comprehensively capture the circumstances surrounding the incident.' Advertisement 'Part of that stems from the distance and perspective of the recording cell phone camera,' the sheriff said in a statement, adding that the video did not capture events that occurred before officers decided to arrest McNeil. Cameras 'can only capture what can be seen and heard,' the sheriff added. 'So much context and depth are absent from recorded footage because a camera simply cannot capture what is known to the people depicted in it.' Many of the speakers at Wednesday's news conference said they hope the Florida case results in accountability so that what happened to McNeil doesn't happen to others. 'It's incumbent upon everyone to understand that this could have been us, this could have been me, this could have been you,' civil rights lawyer Gerald Griggs said. —- Associated Press writer Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed.
